148 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



medicine (says he) can be more efficacious 

 for promoting perspiration ?" 



The cohobated water is said not to be 

 the most useful preparation of rue. An ex- 

 tract made with rectified spirit contains in a 

 small compass the whole virtues of the plant ; 

 the menstruum taking up, by infusion, all the 

 pungency and flavour of it. In distillation 

 with water, its peculiar flavour and warmth 

 arise ; the bitterness, and a considerable share 

 of the pungency, remaining behind. 



Sir Wm. Temple, in his work on Health 

 and Long Life, says, " Rue is of excellent 

 use for all illnesses of the stomach, that pro- 

 ceed from cold or moist humours ; a great 

 digester and restorer of appetite ; it dispels 

 wind, helps perspiration, drives out ill hu- 

 mours, is useful in pestilent or contagious 

 airs ; the only ill lies in too frequent use, 

 which impairs the natural heat of the sto- 

 mach by the greater heat of an herb very 

 hot and dry ; and therefore, the juice made 

 up with sugar into small pills, and swallowed 

 only two or three at night or morning, where 

 there is occasion, is the most innocent way 

 of using it." 



It is said, that by eating the leaves of rue, 

 the king's evil may be cured. 



